theodoeb gubney



UNITED STATES" PATENT FFICE- i. Tnnonoan GURNEY, .on BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VSLED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,905, dated October 4, 1881.I

` Application filed August 6, 1831. (N o model.)

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, J. THEoDonE GURNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specitcation.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of the runnersv of sleighs or sleds, and improvementsin the frames or gears to which these runners are to be applied.

Figure l is a perspective view of somuch of a sleigh or sled as is necessary to illustrate my invention. .Fig 2 is a view of a runder detached. Fig. 3 is a view partly in end elevation and partly incross-sectionon the central line of the cross frame or bench.

In the drawings, G H I represent the main parts ofthe ruimer, G being the knee or standard, H the rave or top beam, and I the bottom or runner proper. The knee G is, at its upper end, considerably wider than the rave, and is provided at each end with trunnions or short stub-shafts J J.

L is a mortise or recess formed in the outer edge of the rave-piece H, directly over the outer trunnion, J and serves a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Ihave shown a portion of a connecting-frame or lower gear by which the opposite runners are connected and supported.

A indicates a cross piece or beam, extending from the outside of one runner to that of the other, and provided with the lower part of a circle or fifth-wheel at C. The circle or fifthwheel corresponds to a top circle attached to a bolster carried by the body of the sleigh or sled. When the body of a wagon or other vehicle is to be attached to the sleigh or sled the upper circle carried by the platform-gear of the vehicle is arranged to rest upon the circle at C, the parts being united together by a bolt running through the center.

B represents an iron brace or stren gtheningbnr attached to the under side of the wooden bar or cross-piece A, there being at the ends of thestrengthening-barB a loop-bolt,E,tirrnly Secured by means cfa cross-plate, d, and nuts e.

D represents the vertical part of an angular plu te whichis secured to and depends from the under side of the part A, the other part, K, of theangular plate being secureddirectly to said part A. ln order to make the fastening and support of this plate DK perfectly tirm, I combine with it also a loop-bolt, F, a cross-plate, a, and nuts b, whereby the depending plate can be tightly clamped.

When the runner is to be attachedv to the cross frame or gear the inner trunnion, J, is insertedinto the aperture in theend of the part B of the fx aine or gear, and the outer trunnion is mounted in the aperture c in the plate D, said plate passing vertically through, and being situated in lthe niortise or reeessL in the rave of the runner. After the parts havebeen put together in the manner indicated aplate,M, is securely fastened to the side of the rave in such a position as to close the recess L and hold the various parts in proper place. This plate M is provided with an aperture for the passage of the trunnion J, the plate thus serving also to i protect the bearings of the trunnion. The length ofthe recess L is greater than the width of the plate D, so that the runner can Swing up and down to a limited extent, such Swinging being permitted by the trunnion and being necessary when the sleigh or sled i's moving over uneven ground.

By using a knee of the character shown at G, I avoid the numerous and objectionable braces that have been necessary with sleds of this class as they have been heretofore constructed. The line on which the runner is pivoted to the cross-frame is below the rave H, there being'no part of the runner-frame above said rave, so that the cross parts A and B can be brought down close to the runner, and the parts can be joined more compactly and firmly than if the pivoting devices are situated above the rave.

Although in the drawings I have shown the runner as being attached to a front transverse frame or gear, yet it will be readily seen that a runner of similar construction and a substan tiallysimilar gear or frame can be employed roo' at the rear of the sleigh or sled, no circle or fifth-wheel, however, being necessary in the latter case.

What I claim is'- 5 1. The combination, with the topcross-piece, A, the runner and the runner-frame provided with the inner and the outer horizontally-arranged trunnions or pivots, of the brace B, secured to the central part ofthe cross-piece A,

1o and adapted to support said cross-piece, and

also to support the inner trunnion of the runner, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the rave or top piece, H, the bottom I, and the cross parts A I5 B, of the knee G, when situated entirely be- *low the rave H, and provided with the laterally-extending trunnions JJbeloW the rave for pivoting the runner, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination ofthe er0ss-pieee A, the strengthening-bar B, attached to the under zo side of the part A, the perforated plate D, and the runner having' the knee Gr, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. THEODORE GURNEY.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. PAGE, THOMAS S. HODGE. 

